HELP !! Need advice re building control

[slimsurf]

Hi All

we are having some work done ( a new back door ) and assumed that building control would be part of this as they are going through our chimney -- we have no doubts about the work and are happy with the builder however he has advised not worrying too much about building control as it could be complicated -- any advice the southwark site seems complex ( unsurprisingly ) I presumed building control would simply come look at the lintel and say -- this is safe/not safe certificate and then off we go with plastering making good ?

we have planning permission and a structural engineer looked at it for us beforehand and said all was fine

-- who can do building control certification ?

-- is it just a site inspection ? or should it have been 'cleared with building control first' ?

other builders quoted '250 for building control'

really need advice tonight if poss....

Thanks

Salim

[slimsurf]

Seriously any advice ....

[Lowlander]

Call them first thing tomorrow to discuss. It's not worth compromising even if you're happy with the builder, both your safety and nightmare when you come to sell.

Depends, but usually BC come round to inspect and sign off at the end, or regular during the works if complex.

BC fee varies but sounds about right for form filling and doing all the calcs.

[Penguin68]

Building control do not undertake structural safety checks - they are there to make sure that correct/ specified materials are used - such as fire proofed panels and insulation depths and that the work done matches what is on the plans (for either a planning permission or a permitted development). They are there to check that building regs have been followed. They don't normally comment on the quality of the work done (but if the wrong guage RSJ was used they might notice, if it wasn't already boxed in, although they can require it to be exposed to check). The more they 'kmow' the builder's work (assuming it's been OK in the past), the less they tend to check (it's unknown and new builders who get the most scrutiny - not unreasonably).

As long as the building work has been notified it's up to them what checks they make and when. If it hasn't been notified (this doesn't seem to have been) - and the work doesn't come under either planning permission or permitted development it's up to you - but you could employ your own structural engineer rather than the council's inspector. I am assuming that you are the owner of the property.

If the builder has come with recommendations and is a member of the Master Builders Federation (or similar group) then you should be OK - the work should come with a guarantee.

As far as selling is concerned, it's normally only changes which would require some form of consent (which isn't there) which could cause problems - otherwise buyers will tend to rely on advice fom their own surveyers. The council doesn't issue certificates of good work, just of lawfulness.

[UncleBen]

You should've contacted BC in the first place. Your builder has given you poor advice. A chimney brest is structural and any failing can affect others. Contact BC asap.

[motorbird83]

Work on a chimney etc does need building control and you should have notified them 48 hours prior to starting work (they in turn notify your neighbours). Your builder may be advising you not to do so because technically you also need to serve a partywall notice for chimney work if it on a party wall (very likely if you are mid terraced). A lot of people won't bother with the partywall notice but if your neighbours have been difficult this might be what's concerning your builder now.

Also, building control absolutely do not verify that you are building a project to permitted development or planning permission specifications. It falls completely outside their remit. A property can be signed off by building control that has no planning permission. Building control do ensure that the plans and building are up to code and review the structural engineer drawings you submit.

[alachlan]

You don't need to use the council for building control - independent companies can undertake this work but again need to notify the council prior that

a) the work is taking place

b) they are acting as your building control

In my experience you would only consider this route if the project is particularly complex/multi-phased, uses solutions (fire suppression for example) that the council are not experienced with and therefore are likely to turn down, or you just don't trust them/don't want to hand over any more money to them.

[BB100]

To be honest, I had an experience of having a roofer who discouraged me from wasting my money on building regs. It was because he was doing a very poor job.

[slimsurf]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU -- The forum is indeed a wonderful place - interestingly after building control was raised they have undone a lot of the work ( pulled out a lintel) and replaced it....

makes you wonder if it was good enough in the first place.